prepared by Rev. Daniel Yovan – 26th October 2025
Call to worship: Psalm 96: 9 – 11
Worship the Lord in holy splendour; tremble before him, all the earth. Say among the nations, “The Lord is king! The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved. He will judge the peoples with equity.” Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar and all that fills it;
STF 1 All people that on earth do dwell
Prayer
Ow, Fadda! Eternal Creator, the story of our relationship as revealed in Scripture with you begins with a hymn; a hymn of creation. Thank you for the reminder that chaos and darkness give way to order and beauty.
Thank you, God, that the rhythms of music are written deep in our spirits. Yet because “guilty feet have got no rhythm” we too often feel like we might never dance again the way we danced with you. We come to you now in the language of one prison programme, Changing Tunes, asking you to change, to shift the narrative of hopelessness often running around in our head.
Make us once again instruments of praise; instruments of worship! Retune us, glue our cracked pots with gold like in Kintsugi master craft; make us more valuable than we recognise. Although we may feel fit for the rubbish pile, you see us. You greet us – sawbona! You see… our past, our heritage, our people and you smile. Sit with us as we learn to sing again, show us how to sing in harmony with you. Nature’s harmony. Yes, Fadda. Amen.
Leon Dundas, Managing Chaplain at HMP Exeter.
Please Read
Luke 18: 9-14
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax-Collector
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 10‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector. 11The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector. 12I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.” 13But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” 14I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.’
Reflection:
Prayer is part of our Christian discipline and the life-line of our relationship with God. Without prayer, it is impossible to walk with God. We all do pray every day. But in today’s scripture reading we find a warning from Jesus, how not to pray. Two people came to pray at the temple, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector. Let us look at their prayers.
The Pharisee did not really go to pray to God, because true prayer is always offered to God. But here he was talking about himself. We find the pharisee listing out how good he was; “I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I Get, and I am not like the others, including this tax-collector”. The Jewish law prescribed only one absolutely obligatory fast – that on the day of Atonement. But those who wish to gain special merit fasted also on Mondays and Thursdays when the market is open and Jerusalem will be full of country people. Those who fasted made it public by their whitened faces and untidy clothes, so that people will know that they were fasting. That is why Jesus said in Matthew 6: 16 – 17, when you fast do not make it obvious as the hypocrites with disfigured faces and shabby clothes.
He alone was in the centre of his prayer. He compared himself with the tax-collector who was praying at the same time. He was telling God how good he was. William Barclay calls this prayer as the sin of pride and a self-testimonial in the presence of God. This guy was complete and self-sufficient according to his prayer. He doesn’t need anything from God. He got it all sorted.
On the other hand, the tax-collector stood very far, couldn’t even look up to the heavens and had nothing to brag about to God in prayer. But was beating his breast and saying, “God be merciful to me, a sinner”. He was heart broken and bitterly disappointed before the Holy God. It was his humility won the acceptance before God. David cries out to God in distress in Ps 51: 17 The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Friends, we are not saved by good works, we are saved by grace for good works. The Pharisee did not go to the temple to pray to God but to announce to all within earshot how good he was. The tax-collector went recognising his sin and begging for mercy. Self-righteousness is dangerous. It leads to pride, causes a person to despise others and prevents him or her from learning anything form God. There is not doubt that all that he said in the prayers was true.
The fact of the matter is, friends, that I cannot come to God because of my merit or I am better than others in comparison. Christina Rossetti writes, “None other Lamb, none other name, none other Hope in heaven or earth or sea, None other Hiding-place from guilt and shame, None beside”. The tax-collector’s prayer should be our prayer because we all need God’s mercy every single day. Amen.
Intercession:
God, most graciously and most holy, grant us the help of your Spirt as we pray for the Church and the world. We pray for the Church in every land…..for the local Churches …..we pray for the Church in Nigeria as they face persecution for their faith. Enable all churches everywhere to worship and serve you with reverence and Joy.
Lord, hear us,
Lord, graciously hear us.
We pray for the peoples of every land…….and for the leaders of the nations……..that all may work together for justice and peace.
Lord, hear us,
Lord, graciously hear us.
We pray for those who are ill or distress……for the bereaved……and for those in any other need or trouble……that they may may be comforted and sustained.
Lord, hear us,
Lord, graciously hear us.
Father, we remember before you all your servants who have died in the faith of Christ……
We pray that we too may lead faithful and godly lives in this world, and finally share with all the saints in everlasting Joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
STF 34 – O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness
